i-Ball Data Recorder acquires Images of HTV-3 during Re-Entry

September 15, 2012

The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency and IHI Aerospace have released the first images taken by the i-Ball Re-Entry Data Recorder while the H-II Transfer Vehicle was making its destructive re-entry over the Pacific Ocean on Friday. i-Ball is a Re-Entry Data Recorder that made its first flight on HTV3. The Sensor is spherical in shape, has a diameter of 40 centimeters and includes two cameras that acquired footage of HTV’s fiery return to Earth and give insight in the destructive re-entry environment. Also, the device includes sensors for measuring temperature and accelerations. In addition, i-Ball houses a GPS Transponder to track the device after re-entry during the final stages of its flight. Its final descent was decelerated by a parachute that was deployed before splashdown in the ocean. After making its splashdown landing, i-Ball relayed its data via an Iridium Satellite. Although, i-Ball made a safe landing and stays afloat for some time, the sphere will not be recovered. The Data Recorder was developed by IHI Aerospace Co. Ltd. and has a total mass of 15.5 Kilograms.

Photo: JAXA

i-Ball Images around 80 Kilometers

Photo: JAXA/IHI

Photo: JAXA/IHI

i-Ball Images around 70 Kilometers - HTV-3 Breakup & Disintegration

Photo: JAXA/IHI

Photo: JAXA/IHI

HTV-3 is no more after ending its Mission via Re-Entry

September 14, 2012

Photo: NASA

After making it speedy departure from the International Space Station on Wednesday, the H-II Transfer Vehicle has successfully ended its mission via a targeted, destructive re-entry over the Pacific Ocean. On Thursday and Friday, HTV-3 performed Orbit Lowering Maneuvers before beginning a series of three Deorbit Maneuvers to intercept the atmosphere. The first of these maneuvers took place at 23:00 UTC on Thursday while HTV Mission Controllers were watching from their consoles at the Control Center in Tsukuba, Japan. The second burn of the Main Propulsion System of the vehicle followed at 00:31 UTC on Friday and the third and final maneuver was performed at 5:00 UTC - sending the spacecraft on its final path towards Earth's atmosphere. Re-Entry was estimated to take place at 5:24 UTC and the teams at Mission Control were carefully watching telemetry coming from the vehicle as temperature sensors began to pick up increased heating when re-entry started before all telemetry coming from the vehicle was lost as expected.

The actual time of Entry Interface is 5:27 UTC with debris splashing down in the Pacific Ocean between 5:38 and 5:59 UTC, according to JAXA. This marks the successful end of the HTV-3 Mission.

JAXA has not yet confirmed whether data from the two Re-Entry Data Recorders has been acquired.

During atmospheric Entry, the two Entry Data Recorders that were activated by Aki Hoshide shortly before HTV-3 departure, were expected to be actively taking data to examine the Re-Entry environment and the break-up characteristics of the spacecraft.

REBR, the Re-Entry Breakup Recorder, records data regarding the thermal, acceleration, rotational and other stresses the vehicle experiences during its destructive re-entry process. This data is used to improve Re-Entry Simulation Models that show inaccuracies for the peak heating environment of re-entry. REBR has a mass of about 4 kilograms and is 31-centimeters in diameter. The REBR design consists of a sensor suite composed of a GPS receiver, temperature sensors, accelerometers and rate gyros, a pressure sensor, electronics, a commercially-available Iridium modem, a combination GPS/Iridium antenna, and batteries. The data that is acquired is stored inside the REBR memory and after entry, when the device is free falling towards Earth, it makes contact with the Iridium Satellite Fleet – making a ‘call’ home to transmit acquired information. REBRs have flown on previous ATV and HTV Missions.i-Ball is a Re-Entry Data Recorder that made its first flight on HTV3. The Sensor is spherical in shape, has a diameter of 40 centimeters and includes two cameras that were expected to acquire footage of HTV’s fiery return to Earth and give insight in the destructive re-entry environment. Also, the device includes sensors for measuring temperature and accelerations. In addition, i-Ball houses a GPS Transponder to track the device after re-entry during the final stages of its flight. Its final descent is decelerated by a parachute that is deployed before splashdown in the ocean. The Data Recorder was developed by IHI Aerospace Co. Ltd. And has a total mass of 15.5 Kilograms.REBR was installed in front of the A1 Rack inside the Pressurized Cargo Carrier while i-Ball was located in front of the F1 Rack.

Photo: Aerospace Corporation

REBR -
Re-Entry Breakup Recorder

Photo: JAXA

i-Ball

Automatic Abort causes HTV-3 to leave ISS faster than planned

September 12, 2012

Photo: NASA

Photo: NASA

The H-II Transfer Vehicle 3 Spacecraft has departed the International Space Station on Wednesday, September 12, 2012 after successfully completing its ISS Resupply Mission following its arrival back in July. The departure caused some tension inside Mission Control and on Orbit as HTV performed an abort just after being released by the Station's Robotic Arm. The Abort Burn was successful and HTV separated from ISS on the abort trajectory taking it away from the Station much faster and on a different path than in a nominal departure scenario.Now, the vehicle is headed for destructive re-entry over the Pacific Ocean on September 14 with its atmospheric entry and break-up being monitored by two Re-Entry Data Recorders that were activated prior to unberthing. After HTV cargo operations were complete with all internal cargo being transferred to ISS, all external items being installed on their respective position aboard ISS and HTV-3 filled up with trash and no-longer needed items, the primary mission objectives were complete.HTV has delivered a total of 3,500 Kilograms of pressurized cargo via the Pressurized Logistics Carrier. This cargo included normal ISS supplies like crew food and daily-life consumables, but HTV also delivered a number of larger science and maintenance hardware such as the Japanese Aquatic Habitat that will complete science operations inside the Kibo Module.In addition, the spacecraft delivered the JAXA Multi-Mission Consolidated Equipment and NASA's ScAN Testbed that were delivered via the Unpressurized Logistics Carrier and its Exposed Pallet. [Click here for the HTV-3 Cargo Manifest.] When all Cargo Operations were complete, teams started preparations for the departure of the spacecraft. The HTV-3 unberthing and release operation was delayed from the original September 6 target to facilitate last week's Spacewalk to install Main Bus Switching Unit 1 on the Truss Segment of ISS.

Final preparations for the departure of HTV-3 began on Monday with procedure reviews to make sure the crew members were ready for hatch closure procedures and the complex unberthing and release operation involving the Robotic Arm of the International Space Station, Canadarm2.

On Tuesday, the crew removed components from the vehicle such as fire extinguishers, lighting hardware assemblies and smoke detectors to serve as spares aboard ISS, making use of all components that were delivered aboard the spacecraft. Flight Engineer Aki Hoshide spent some time inside the HTV, installing the two Re-Entry Data Recorders, REBR and i-Ball, in preparation for HTV's destructive Re-Entry. Suni Williams, Aki Hoshide and Joe Acaba worked together to close the hatch of HTV-3 and perform the extensive vestibule outfitting operation. They removed power jumpers and ducts leaving only one power and data connector in place to leave HTV-3 hooked up to ISS systems as long as possible. They installed four Control Panel Assemblies that are needed to drive the 16 bolts that are holding HTV-3 in place. They partially installed Thermal Blankets and made visual inspections of the vestibule between the two spacecraft. On Wednesday, the crew started by finishing the vestibule outfitting task, removing the remaining jumpers, installing thermal blankets and closing the Harmony Hatch to isolate the cavity between the two spacecraft. Vestibule Depressurization was completed by Joe Acaba who was the Common Berthing Mechanism Operator for the day. Once leak checks were complete, Acaba began driving the CBM Bolts that were used to hold HTV-3 in place on the Space Station. These 16 Bolts are driven in four sets of four bolts as part of a methodical process to free the HTV and place it in its Unberthing Configuration from where the robotic arm took over to move the vehicle away from the Space Station. The crew ran into some trouble with the Centerline Berthing Camera earlier in the day which prompted teams to make slight adjustments to the plan to complete HTV unberthing without this camera which was not a constraint, but required teams on the ground to perform some adjustments. After the bolts had been released, the ROBO Team inside Mission Control Houston controlled Canadarm2 to remove HTV from Node-2 and move it into the pre-install position about 4 meters from the Harmony. From there, HTV-3 was moved to its Release Position ~12 meters from ISS. This marked the first time a visiting vehicle was unberthed from ISS by controllers on the ground. Unberthing occurred at 11:50 UTC.With HTV-3 in its release position, teams stopped to await the proper release time and to give Japanese Mission Controllers in Tsukuba, Japan, time to complete required checks of the vehicle's relative navigation system to make sure HTV-3 was ready for departure.

Operations to release the HTV got underway later in the day. ISS and HTV-3 were placed in Free Drift Mode with all thrusters being disabled to prevent any firings during release. At 15:50 UTC, H-II Transfer Vehicle 3 was released by the Robotic Arm that was controlled by Joe Acaba and Aki Hoshide using the Robotics Work Station inside the Station's Cupola. Release occurred while the complex was above Canada. After letting go of HTV-3, the Robotic Arm backed up to move away from the vehicle that was then recovered from Free Drift to make a small thruster pulse, an ISS Departure Firing, to gently depart the vicinity of the Space Station. This small thruster pulse of the Reaction Control System to place the spacecraft on a trajectory along the R-Bar of the Space Station was not performed. Instead, HTV-3 made an Abort Burn about one minute before the scheduled maneuver. The Main Propulsion Thrusters were fired and HTV-3 shot out of the view of Space Station Cameras as it performed a V-Bar departure (along the Space Station's Velocity Vector) as part of an abort scenario that was triggered automatically. Mission Controllers assessed the trajectory of the vehicle and came to the conclusion that HTV-3 was safely moving away from the Space Station. After the departure, the ISS Crew noted that HTV appeared to show some motion after the release, likely going in an aft direction. "The vehicle went into abort mode (ACU) due to drop-out of its IOC2 (In/Out Computer 2), but it placed the HTV well away from ISS. HTV recovered on IOC1, and ground controllers have since restored full telemetry. The root cause of the abort is under investigation," NASA said in a satement.

Controllers on the ground and the Astronauts inside the Cupola were keeping a close eye on HTV-3 as it made its departure, drifting away to leave the ISS Keep Out Sphere. One more Departure Maneuver was planned 15 minutes after release. Once HTV-3 has left the vicinity, joined operations will be complete and Tsukuba will have full control over the vehicle to prepare it for EOM - End of Mission.HTV-3 will complete about 37 hours of free flight to prepare for its Re-Entry. During that period, the spacecraft will modify its orbit, lowering its altitude and moving away from the International Space Station. Late on September 13, at around 22:28 UTC, the Vehicle begins its Re-Entry Sequence that consists of three Re-Entry Maneuvers. After these three Burns of the Main Propulsion System of the HTV, it will be on a trajectory to intercept Earth's Atmosphere at a precisely targeted location for destructive Re-Entry and impact in the Pacific Ocean, away from any populated land masses. Re-Entry is planned to begin at about 5:24 UTC on September 14.

HTV-3 External Cargo Operations completed aboard ISS

August 11, 2012

The docked Mission of H-II Transfer Vehicle 3 is progressing on schedule with internal cargo operations being in full swing aboard the complex of ISS and HTV-3. External Cargo activities were completed this week aboard the International Space Station and all procedures were performed successfully. Operations to remove HTV-3's Exposed Pallet from the Unpressurized Logistics Carrier got underway on August 6, 2012. The HTV Exposed Pallet was removed by Canadarm2 which was grappled to the EP before. JAXA made significant modifications to the Unpressurized Cargo Carrier's Exposed Pallet. HTV-3 uses the Multi-Purpose version of the EP for the first time. In addition, the Exposed Pallet Holding Mechanism was improved and features a simpler design. Being controlled from the ground, the Station's Robotic Arm was commanded to remove the EP, start the procedure to maneuver it to the handoff position and wait for the Japanese Robotic Arm to grapple the Pallet. Working from inside the Japanese Experiment Module, Joe Acaba and Aki Hoshide controlled Kibo's Remote Manipulator System to grapple the Exposed Pallet. The Payload was handed off and the astronauts moved it to its install position at Exposed Facility Unit 10 of the external Exposed facility of the JEM. There, it was installed by using capture latches. With the hardware installed and electrical connections in place, the Japanese Robotic Arm was deactivated overnight. The following day, Candarm2 picked up the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, Dextre for short, which was used to unberth the ScAN testbed and install it on its permanent location on ExPRESS Logistics Carrier-3 via the Flight Releasable Attachment Mechanism of the Carrier. On August 9, the Crew was involved in external Cargo Operations once again. Acaba and Hoshide worked several hours with the Japanese Arm to unberth the Multi Mission Consolidated Equipment and install it on Exposed Facility Unit 8 on the JEM Exposed Facility, closing capture latches and activating payload heaters to complete the procedure.

Photo: NASA

Photo: NASA

Ground Controllers then took over once again, grappling the Exposed Pallet with the Japanese Arm and unberthing it from the Exposed Facility followed by a maneuver to its handoff position at which it was grappled by the Station's Robotic Arm. JEMRMS let go of the EP and SSRMS was left in this position until the crew was ready for EP re-installation on Friday. Working from the Station's Cupola Robotics Work Station, Joe Acaba and Suni Williams completed the EP Re-Installation to place it back inside HTV's Unpressurized Logistics Carrier completing HTV-3 External Cargo Operations.With the EP back in place, all external activities related to HTV Cargo Operations are complete and the Space Station has received two new external payloads.

Photo: NASA

ScAN Testbed

Photo: NASA/JAXA

MCE Transfer

The SCaN Testbed, or Space Communications and Navigation Testbed, was designed and built at NASA’s Glenn Research Center over the last three years and will be active aboard ISS for about one year after being delivered by HTV3. ScaN provides a testbed for the development of Software Defined Radio (SDR) technology. The SDR devices are part of the ScaN Payload. SDR technology with software based communications and navigation functions provide ground mission planners the capability to change the functionality of the radio once on-orbit. Changing the operating characteristics of the radios offers future payload operators the opportunity of changing a mission in progress, adapting to new science opportunities and increased data return. The SCAN Tested will enable NASA to evaluate the SDR Technology for future use and tests its capabilities. The functions performed by the three radios include communication with the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) system in both S-Band and Ka-Band, receive Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) signals, and enable proximity communications between the International Space Station (ISS) and approaching vehicles. The flight hardware consists of a enclosure installed on a Flight Releasable Attachment Mechanism. The SCAN Payload consists of five main components: the avionics system, the software defined radios, the radio frequency (RF) subsystem, the antenna pointing system, and heaters. Except for the five externally mounted antennas, most of the subsystems are installed on the inside of the enclosure.The second external payload delivered aboard HTV-3 is the Multi-mission Consolidated Equipment (MCE) that consists of five small mission payloads dedicated to science and technology demonstrations. These investigation payloads include two atmospheric observation investigations that study lightening and resonant scattering from plasma and airglow. The IMAP payload is a visible light spectrometer that examines the energy and plasma activity and related global transportation near the rim of atmosphere. GLIMS looks at the spatial distribution of lightning and plasma phenomena and their discharge characteristics throughout the atmosphere during night passes. SIMPLE, REXJ and HDTV are three technology demonstration payloads. SIMPLE seeks to collect engineering data in orbit for inflatable space structures while REXJ demonstrates realtime ground control of a robotic system by providing validation data during robotic manipulation. HDTV is a high resolution TV camera that acquires data for evaluating how long a COTS-HDTV survives in the orbit environment for development of future Space HDRV systems.

ISS Crew opens HTV's Hatch to prepare for Cargo Operations

July 28, 2012

*HTV File Image* - Photo: NASA

The Hatch of H-II Transfer Vehicle 3 was opened by the International Space Station Crew on Saturday, July 28, 2012 to kick off a very busy resupply mission that will get started next week. HTV-3 had performed a flawless Free-Flight, Rendezvous and Capture after launching on July 21 and linking up with ISS on Friday, July 27.After the spacecraft was successfully berthed to the Harmony Nadir Common Berthing Mechanism and final bolt loading was completed by Mission Control Houston, the three US Segment crew members got started on procedures to configure the two vehicles for hatch opening. Working very efficiently, the three crew members, Aki Hoshide, Joe Acaba and Suni Williams, got ahead on their timeline on Friday, completing the entire vestibule outfitting task. They performed standard leak checks to make sure the vestibule between Harmony and HTV was tight before opening Harmony's hatch and outfitting the vestibule between ISS and Kounotori 3.

The four control panel assemblies needed to bolt HTV in place were removed, power and data jumpers were installed and ducts have been put in place. The crew completed all necessary tasks on Friday to be able to open the hatch first thing on Saturday. After hatch opening, the crew ingressed the vehicle wearing masks and safety goggles as part of nominal flight rules in place for every new vehicle that docks with the Space Station. This is done to prevent any debris or foreign objects to harm the crew. FOD particles could not be seen while HTV is closed out on Earth and start floating around once it reached space. Aki Hoshide performed a quick visual inspection assisted by Joe Acaba. Air Samples were also taken to ensure the air inside HTV met ISS standards. The crew allowed HTV's air to mix with that of ISS for several minutes before they went back inside HTV-3 for a more thorough inspection.With hatches open and HTV configured for its stay aboard the Space Station, everything is ready for cargo operations to begin. HTV-3 delivers a total of 4,600 Kilograms of equipment to the Space Station. This includes 3,500 Kilograms of pressurized cargo delivered via the Pressurized Cargo Carrier and 1,100 Kilograms of external equipment that is mounted on the Unpressurized Logistics Carrier and its Exposed Pallet. JAXA made significant modifications to the Unpressurized Cargo Carrier's Exposed Pallet. HTV-3 uses the Multi-Purpose version of the EP for the first time. In addition, the Exposed Pallet Holding Mechanism was improved and features a simpler design. A complete list of HTV's Cargo and additional background information can be found here.Cargo Operations will begin on Monday with USOS crew members moving the pressurized cargo to locations aboard the Space Station. The Exposed Pallet will be extracted from the Unpressurized Logistics Carrier by the Space Station's Robotic Arm on August 6. Canadarm2 will hand it off to the Robotic Arm of the Kibo Module, the Japanese Experiment Module Remote Manipulator System. The EP is then attached to the JEM Exposed Facility. Afterwards, the two external Payloads can be moved to their respective locations on the exterior of the Space Station by the Robotic Arms. The Japanese Multi-Mission Consolidated Equipment will be installed on the Exposed Facility, at Exposed Facility Unit #8. NASA's ScAN Testbed Hardware will be removed from the Exposed Facility by the Special Purpose Dextrous Manipulator and is going to be installed on ExPRESS Logistics Carrier-3 via the Flight Releasable Attachment Mechanism of the Carrier. Once Payload Operations are complete, the Exposed Facility will be re-installed on the ULC for disposal via destructive re-entry. Once all pressurized cargo is moved to the Station, HTV-3 will be filled up with trash and no-longer-needed items before it is unberthed and released on September 6, 2012. Two days later, on September 8, HTV-3 will make its destructive Re-Entry to end its busy mission.

HTV-3 becomes part of ISS after successful Berthing

July 27, 2012

The HTV-3 Spacecraft has been successfully installed on the International Space Station on Friday, July 27, after it made a picture-prefect Rendezvous followed by a flawless capture using the Space Station's Robotic Arm operated by crew members Joe Acaba and Aki Hoshide.For a detailed report on all Rendezvous and Approach Events that were unfolding earlier on Friday, refer to the previous Mission Update giving a full picture of the Rendezvous and Capture along with background information.After initial Capture, the Canadarm2 completed its capture sequence to achieve a firm grip of the HTV Spacecraft. When that was complete, the teams made a first visual inspection of the Common Berthing Mechanism to make sure that no contamination or foreign objects were present. Also, the Space Station made a re-orientation maneuver to achieve its nominal attitude after being maneuvered to a Capture Attitude before the HTV began its approach.

*HTV File Image* - Photo: NASA

Initial Maneuvers of Canadarm2 were controlled from the ground before Aki Hoshide and Suni Williams resumed operations in their roles as robotic operators using the Robotics Work Station inside the Cupola of the Space Station. HTV-3 was successfully maneuvered to its pre-install position, at that time the crew acquired some engineering footage of the CBM on HTV that are being downlinked to the ground later. Later, a GO was given for the Crew to move the Spacecraft to the Ready-To-Latch-Position and the operation was completed without a problem. Alignment was by the book and all four Ready-To-Latch-Indicators switched to Green indicating that HTV was in the proper position for installation on the Harmony Module. While Hoshide and Williams were moving the SSRMS, Astronaut Joe Acaba was Friday's designated Common Berthing Mechanism Operator working inside the Harmony Module. Earlier, Acaba was at the controls of the robotic arm to capture the spacecraft. Once the Green Light was given for First Stage Capture, he initiated the procedure by driving 16 bolts. When First Stage Capture was complete, the Station's Robotic Arm was commanded to go limp to prepare for Second Stage Capture. Acaba initiated the sequence to form a hard-mate between HTV-3 and the Space Station driving a total of 16 bolts in a choreographed manner of four sets of four bolts. Second Stage Capture was confirmed at 14:34 GMT and Kounotori 3 became a part of the Space Station as a hard-mate between ISS and HTV was formed.

The berthing operation was ahead of schedule making up time that was lost during the Rendezvous and the crew was able to get ahead of their overall timeline for the day. Mission Control started one hour of Bolt Loading completing final torquing of the 16 Bolts to set the stage for leak checks of the vestibule between the two spacecraft. The vestibule between the hatches of Harmony and HTV will be pressurized and a series of leak checks will start to make sure the seal between ISS and the Spacecraft is tight. When leak checks are complete and the HTV-3 spacecraft is in good condition, crew members will open the Harmony Hatch and perform the Vestibule Outfitting Task. This procedure takes several hours as equipment such as the four Control Panel Assemblies needed to drive the bolts are removed. Also, ducts and power&data jumpers are being installed to hook HTV up to the Station's Power System and enable communications with the vehicle via the ISS Communication Infrastructure. Teams are planning to complete these tasks on Friday depending on timeline constraints. Currently, Hatch Opening is planned for Saturday at 11:20 GMT. HTV Hatch Opening Operations will begin with pressure equalization before the hatch to the Pressurized Cargo Carrier can be opened. Initially, inspections of the HTV-3 Spacecraft are being performed with crew members entering the vehicle wearing protective gear. They will perform air sampling operations before nominal HTV-3 Cargo Operations can begin. The H-II Transfer Vehicle 3 Spacecraft will deliver about 4,600 Kilograms of cargo to the International Space Station. This includes internal supplies as well as unpressurized Cargo delivered via the Unpressurized Logistics Carrier. The internal cargo includes Space Station supplies as well as utilization hardware and spare parts for the Kibo Module of ISS. Two external Payloads are being delivered by HTV-3, NASA's SCaN Testbed and JAXA's Multi-Mission Consolidated Equipment. A complete Payload Overview is available here.

Credit: Ralf Vandebergh

HTV-3 seen from the GroundThis image taken by Astrophotographer Ralf Vandebergh shows HTV-3 in Orbit on July 27 as it was chasing the International Space Station - just 10 hours before HTV Capture.>>Visit his Website

HTV-3 arrives at ISS after flawless Rendezvous & Capture

July 27, 2012

Japan's third H-II Transfer Vehicle has arrived at the International Space Station on Friday, July 27, 2012. HTV-3 was captured by the Space Station's Robotic Arm at 12:23 GMT. Shortly after the vehicle was captured, operations to berth it to the Station's Harmony Module got underway with berthing planned for around 14:45 GMT. Rendezvous operations began with the HAM1 Burn - Height Adjustment Maneuver 1 - that was performed at 17:01 GMT on July 25, taking HTV-3 closer to the Space Station's Orbit after completing initial Phasing Maneuvers and on-orbit Checkouts shortly after launch on July 21. HAM0 occurred at 2:35 GMT on Friday morning followed by HAM2 3 hours and 5 minutes later. This burn took HTV-3 to a point 5 Kilometers behind ISS where it paused its Rendezvous at the Approach Initiation Point.

*HTV File Image* - Photo: NASA

Once entering a 23-Kilometers Communications Zone around the Space Station, HTV-3 initiated Proximity Communication using its relative GPS System that communicated with the RGPS System of the Space Station to determine the relative position and range of the two spacecraft. The vehicle arrived at AI at 6:26 GMT and began Stationkeeping as planned. At 6:59 GMT, Aki Hoshide reported that HTV-3 was visible from the Space Station. "It is a beautiful picture," he said. While HTV-3 was at its AI Point, Mission Control performed checks of the RGPS System and prepared the rest of the Rendezvous Sensors for the approach to the station. During the Morning DPC (ISS Daily Planning Conference) it was noted that HTV-3 was single string for RCS since a Reaction Control System Valve Drive on the RCS B String had apparently failed which meant that the HTV rendezvous sequence was 'Zero Fault Tolerant' for RCS. The prime RCS string was reported in good condition so that there were no constraints for rendezvous and capture. At 8:45 GMT, HTV-3 fired its thrusters for the Approach Initiation Burn placing itself on a trajectory to intercept the Space Station's R-Bar at a distance of 500 meters directly below the Space Station. To tweak its trajectory to the R-Bar, HTV-3 performed its RI Burn. Once acquiring the R-Bar, HTV-3 activated its Rendezvous Navigation Sensors, bouncing laser beams off reflectors mounted on the Kibo Module to gather precise navigation data for the approach. For the close approach, HTV uses a Laser-Radar System for more refined range and velocity calculation.

Credit: JAXA

*HTV File Image* - Photo: NASA

At that point, ISS Crew Members Aki Hoshide and Joe Acaba were inside the Cupola closely monitoring HTV making sure it stayed within the proper Rendezvous Corridor. The HTV Command Panel enabled them to communicate directly with the Spacecraft which is important should any failure in the Rendezvous Sequence occur. Commands sent via the Command Panel can include Hold commands to stop the approach and retreat commands to send HTV back to 30 meters or 100 meters to ISS. Also, the crew can command the vehicle to abort the approach in case of any larger malfunctions occurring during the Rendezvous. These commands were not needed today as HTV performed a smooth approach to 250 meters where it arrived at a built-in hold point. During the hold, HTV performed a 180-degree Yaw Maneuver to re-orient itself and its Propulsion Segment with its main thrusters pointing to the correct direction for different abort scenarios enabling HTV to phase away from ISS quickly after an Abort Command is sent to the Vehicle.

At 10:59 GMT, HTV was commanded to resume its approach after the 250-meter hold was extended to give Mission Controllers and Crew Members a chance to get on the same page on the RCS Situation and updated abort modes due to the backup RCS Failure. This hold extension caused a 15-minute delay of the day's timeline. Moving at gentle pace, HTV was sticking to its approach corridor, making periodic thruster firings to correct any misalignment. At the 30-meter mark below the Station, HTV made another stop at 11:26 GMT to give mission controllers a chance to check its systems and make sure alignment is good. Also, Mission Control Centers were polled for final approach. All Stations reported GO and HTV was sent on its way again after a 23-minute stop. HTV needed 19 minutes from the 30-meter point to the Capture Point at which it arrived at 12:08 GMT. After stopping its approach, dampening any transients and ensuring the Range Rate was zero, HTV-3 was commanded to Free Drift and ISS transitioned to Free Drift as well. With all Thrusters disabled, none of the spacecraft can make any motion that would interfere with a safe grapple. Once all systems were verified and the final Poll was completed, Joe Acaba and Aki Hoshide started to move Canadarm 2 to its pre-capture position. The Astronauts verified good alignment and continued to drive the arm for the capture. At 12:23 GMT, Capture was confirmed while the complex was orbiting above the South Pacific Ocean and Canadram 2 had a firm grip of H-II Transfer Vehicle 3, marking its arrival at the International Space Station.

The successful Capture of HTV-3 set the stage for berthing operations that will be in progress for the remainder of the crew's work day. The crew members will start Berthing Operations soon after Grapple and position the HTV-3 Spacecraft in its pre-install set-up position at a distance of about 3.5 Meters to the module so that engineering photos can be acquired through the Node 2 Window. HTV-3 will then be moved to its pre-berthing position at the Earth-facing (nadir) Common Berthing Mechanism on the Harmony Module. Four Ready to Latch Indicators will be used to verify that the Spacecraft is in the correct position and ready for berthing. Procedures will begin to perform first stage capture of the vehicle and allow the SSRMS to go limp. NASA Astronaut Joe Acaba will be in charge of operating the Common Berthing Mechanism on Harmony, performing first stage capture. Afterwards, second stage capture will be executed and HTV-3 will be secured in place forming a hard-mate between the Station and the Spacecraft marking the official start of docked operations. Second Stage Capture is achieved by driving four sets of four bolts to secure the vehicle in place. Mission Control Houston is in charge of final torquing of the bolts to put precise loads on each of the bolts. The Robotic Arm will either return to its pre-grapple position or remain attached to HTV-3 depending on timeline constraints. After the Spacecraft is berthed to Station, standard leak check operations will be performed to make sure the seal between the two spacecraft is tight. the 1-hour leak check begins with Vestibule Pressurization and monitoring. When leak checks are complete and the HTV-3 spacecraft is in good condition, crew members will open the Harmony Hatch and perform the Vestibule Outfitting Task. They will install ducts and remove equipment that was needed to bolt HTV in place such as the four Control Panel Assemblies that are used to drive the 16 bolts for HTV first and second stage capture. Also, connections will be made by installing jumpers that supply power to the spacecraft. In addition to that, the vehicle is hooked up to the Space Station's Data System. Afterwards, pressure equalization can be made and the HTV-3 Hatch can be opened to set the stage for a busy period of cargo operations aboard the space station. Initially, inspections of the HTV-3 Spacecraft are being performed with crew members entering the vehicle wearing protective gear. They will perform air sampling operations before nominal HTV-3 Cargo Operations can begin.

*HTV File Image* - Photo: NASA

HTV-3 will be docked to the Space Station until September 6 to make its cargo delivery of 4,600 Kilograms of ISS Equipment. This includes internal supplies as well as unpressurized Cargo delivered via the Unpressurized Logistics Carrier. Before beginning his mission, Aki Hoshide noted, "It's a very personal visiting vehicle for me, and I look forward to being there when HTV 3 arrives. Now for Japan, obviously, it’s a Japan-built vehicle launching on a Japanese rocket and having a Japanese crew member being up there to work on it actually will be of very significant importance." The grapple of HTV marked the first time a Japanese Astronaut assisted with the Capture of an HTV in Orbit. Hoshide worked as a Capcom on both previous HTV Flights.

HTV-3 on Track for Rendezvous with ISS on Friday

July 25, 2012

File Image - Photo: NASA

After launching from the Tanegashima Space Center, Japan, at 2:06 GMT on Saturday, July 21 aboard an H-IIB Launcher, H-II Transfer Vehicle 3 has completed the first leg of its journey to the International Space Station.After successfully being inserted into its desired Low Earth Orbit of 185 by 305 Kilometers and an inclination of 51.66 degrees, HTV-3 began orbital operations. The vehicle initiated communications with Japanese Ground Stations and NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System to send telemetry to the Tsukuba Space Center and accept commands uplinked to the spacecraft. Shortly after Orbital Insertion, HTV-3 established two-axis attitude control before transitioning to three-axis attitude control several hours later. Also, spacecraft systems underwent initial on-orbit checkouts including tests of the vehicle’s power system, propulsion subsystems and thermal control system. Later on Saturday, the spacecraft performed is first Phasing Maneuver to place itself in the appropriate orbit for the first Height Adjust Maneuver of the mission.

HTV’s latest orbit was 234 by 300 Kilometers(7/25). The spacecraft will continue to adjust its orbit by making a series of Phasing and Height Adjustment Maneuvers. Height Adjustment 0 will be performed about 9 hours and 30 minutes prior to Capture and will place HTV-3 in an orbit 5 Kilometers below that of ISS. When passing a range of 23 Kilometers, the vehicle establishes Proximity Communications with ISS using its Relative GPS System. RGPS provides exact range and range rate data. Height Adjust 2 is performed to place the spacecraft in a position 5 Kilometers behind the Space Station on the –V-Bar. Approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes before Capture, HTV-3 performs its Approach Initiation Maneuver after all the vehicle’s systems were approved for Rendezvous. 60 Minutes after AI, the vehicle arrives at the R-Bar, 500 meters directly below the Space Station, also known as Rendezvous Insertion Point.

At that time, the vehicle begins using its PROX Equipment. When HTV arrives at the R-Bar, a point directly below ISS, the spacecraft switches to its Rendezvous Sensors bouncing laser beams off reflectors mounted on the Kibo Module to gather precise navigation data for the approach. For the close approach, HTV uses a Laser-Radar System for more refined range and velocity calculation. The Hardware Command Panel will be used by the ISS Crew to send commands to HTV while they are monitoring the Rendezvous and Approach Phase from the Robotics Work Station in the Cupola of ISS. Commands sent via the Command Panel include hold commands to stop the approach and retreat commands to send HTV back to its hold points. Also, the crew can command the vehicle to abort the approach in case of any larger malfunctions occurring during the approach. When arriving at a point 250 meters below ISS, HTV-3 pauses its approach and performs a Yaw-Maneuver to rotate to a position that is favorable for any Rendezvous Abort Scenarios with its main thrusters pointed to the correct direction to quickly phase away from the Station. The 250-meter hold has a duration of 20 minutes and gives Mission Controllers a chance to monitor the systems and take care of any last minute items or problems. About 85 minutes before Capture, HTV departs the hold point and slowly closes in at the Space Station sticking to the R-Bar for 19 minutes before arriving at the 30-meter mark; there, the vehicle stops again for the final hold. Mission Control will check the alignment and health of the Rendezvous System before giving the GO for Final Approach. Typically, the 30-meter hold lasts 10 to 20 minutes. From 30 meters to the 10-meter Capture Point, it takes HTV about 21 minutes as it moves at a slow relative velocity to give crew members aboard ISS the chance to respond to any issues via the Crew Command Panel. After arriving at the Capture Point, HTV-3 will be commanded to Free Drift, disabling all its thrusters in preparation for Capture. It takes about 15 minutes from Capture Point Arrival to Canadarm2 Grapple. ISS Expedition 32 crew members Joe Acaba and Aki Hoshide will be in charge of operating the Robotic Arm and grapple the spacecraft. Grapple is planned for 12:05 GMT on Friday, July 27. The crew members will start Berthing Operations soon after Grapple and position the HTV-3 Spacecraft in its pre-install set-up position at a distance of about 3.5 Meters to the module so that engineering photos can be acquired through the Node 2 Window.

File Image - Photo: NASA

HTV-3 will then be moved to its pre-berthing position at the Earth-facing (nadir) Common Berthing Mechanism on the Harmony Module. Four Ready to Latch Indicators will be used to verify that the Spacecraft is in the correct position and ready for berthing. Procedures will begin to perform first stage capture of the vehicle and allow the SSRMS to go limp. Afterwards, second stage capture will be executed and HTV-3 will be secured in place forming a hard-mate between the Station and the Spacecraft marking the official start of docked operations. The Robotic Arm will either return to its pre-grapple position or remain attached to HTV-3 depending on timeline constraints. Sunita Williams will be the CBM Operator going through the individual capture stages. After the Spacecraft is berthed to Station, standard leak check operations will be performed to make sure the seal between the two spacecraft is tight. When leak checks are complete and the HTV-3 spacecraft is in good condition, crew members will open the Harmony Hatch and perform the Vestibule Outfitting Task. They will install ducts and remove equipment that was needed to bolt HTV in place such as the four Control Panel Assemblies that are used to drive the 16 bolts for HTV first and second stage capture. Also, connections will be made by installing jumpers that supply power to the spacecraft. In addition to that, the vehicle is hooked up to the Space Station's Data System. Afterwards, the HTV-3 Hatch can be opened to set the stage for a busy period of cargo operations aboard the space station. The H-II Transfer Vehicle 3 Spacecraft will deliver about 4,600 Kilograms of cargo to the International Space Station. This includes internal supplies as well as unpressurized Cargo delivered via the Unpressurized Logistics Carrier. The internal cargo includes Space Station supplies as well as utilization hardware and spare parts for the Kibo Module of ISS. Two external Payloads are being delivered by HTV-3, NASA's SCaN Testbed and JAXA's Multi-Mission Consolidated Equipment. A complete Payload Overview is available here.

HTV Rendezvous Profile

Image: NASA

HTV-3 begins its Journey to ISS after successful H-IIB Launch

July 21, 2012

Japan's third H-II Transfer Vehicle has successfully started its journey to link up with the International Space Station next week to start a busy resupply mission. An H-IIB Launch Vehicle with HTV-3 under its protective Payload Fairing lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Southern Japan at 2:06 GMT on Saturday, July 21. The launcher completed a flawless ascent and delivered the HTV to its desired Orbit. Countdown Operations got underway late on Friday, local time, and began with the Rollout of the heavy Lift Launch Vehicle. Riding atop its mobile Launch Platform, the Rocket completed its 30-minute trip from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 2 covering the first 400 meters of its long journey to the Space Station. Once arriving at the Pad, the Platform was connected to fuel, power and data umbilicals and technicians started close-out operations as well as final launcher reconfigurations. The Launch Team performed the first of several polls to determine whether everything was ready for Propellant Loading. After the Launch Complex was evacuated, fueling started. The tanking process began with the Chilldown of all transfer lines and pad feedlines before the super-cold Liquid Oxygen and Liquid Hydrogen Propellants started flowing inside the Launch vehicle's first and second stage at X-7 hours and 45 minutes. H-IIB utilizes a 'Clean Pad' Concept, not featuring a fixed Service Structure, using a Mobile Service Tower that is attached to the Launch Platform. The smaller H-IIA Launcher Family uses Launch Pad 1 that features a fixed structure. With tanking in progress, technicians kept a close eye on the systems of the vehicle as a total of 194,400 Kilograms of propellants were loaded into the launcher's tanks. Fueling took three hours and was completed without problems. After propellant loading was finished, the cryogenics that naturally boiled off were replaced as Propellant Replenish continued through the countdown until Tank Pressurization.

Photo: JAXA

Countdown clocks continued to tick down as the Launch Team completed checkouts of the engines, launch facilities, and tracking and control systems to make sure the vehicle was ready for the Terminal Countdown Phase starting at X-60 Minutes. Also, HTV-3 was put through final testing after being placed in Flight Mode. This final hour of the countdown included more vehicle checkouts and re-configurations to prepare for the Automated Sequence that got underway 4 Minutes and 30 Seconds prior to blastoff. In the final minutes leading up to liftoff, weather conditions at the Space Center worsened with light rain moving over the Launch Complex and thick, low clouds moving into the area, but these conditions were within H-IIB Weather Criteria permitting a launch during Saturday's Window. Just before the final countdown sequence began, teams switched HTV-3 to internal power to place it in its launch configuration. As computers were given control of the countdown, H-IIB's Propellant Tanks started pressurization at X-4:20. At X-3 minutes, the launch vehicle switched to internal power using its on-board batteries. Propellant Tank Pressurization wrapped up without issues and all tanks were secured at flight level. One minute before liftoff, thousands of Kilograms of water were being poured over the launch platform to suppress the acoustic loads occurring during main engine and booster ignition. Launch Vehicle Ordnances were armed at X-30 Seconds and the Guidance System of the Vehicle switched to Flight Mode 12 Seconds later.

*File Image* - Photo: JAXA

Credit: JAXA

At X-11.5 seconds, the sparklers beneath the twin LE-7A Main Engines of the Core Stage ignited to burn off any residual Hydrogen that may be released during the Ignition Sequence. Ignition Sequence Start was commanded at X-5.2 Seconds and the two LE-7A Engines soared to life as their turbopumps were spinning up to flight speed being monitored by on-board computers to make sure the powerplants were starting up properly and reaching the expected thrust level before the four 76,600-Kilogram SRB-A3 Solid Rocket Boosters were ignited by the appropriate command being sent 0.5 seconds before First Motion occurred. Blastoff was on time at precisely 2:06:18 GMT (11:06am local time) and the 531,000 Kilogram H-IIB Rocket lifted off from its sea-side Launch Pad disappearing into the low cloud deck within seconds. The Rocket started its Roll and Pitch Maneuver to align itself with its Launch Azimuth of 108.5 degrees. Climbing on its south-easterly trajectory, the vehicle passed Mach 1 and encountered Maximum Dynamic Pressure about 1 minute and 10 seconds into the flight recovering nicely from any transients occurring at these events. The four Solid Rocket Boosters Burned out at X+1:54 after completing their job of providing extra thrust during the initial portion of the flight. The SRBs provide 81% of the vehicle's thrust at liftoff - each booster burning through 66,000 Kilograms of propellants as it provides 2,305 Kilonewtons of thrust for 114 seconds. The SRBs were jettisoned in pairs at X+2:04 and X+2:07. Booster Separation appeared to be clean, but this event will be studied closely during post-flight analysis because the vehicle underwent some modifications since there was a small issue during the most recent H-IIB flight in 2011. During the separation of the first SRB Pair, there was a 0.45-second delay between the separation of the two Booster Struts causing roll and yaw rotation which had to be counteracted by the launcher. Teams put modifications in place on the H-IIA and B vehicles to prevent that problem from re-occurring on this and future missions. As the 38-meter core stage and its LE-7A Engines with a total thrust of 2,196 Kilonewtons continued to power the vehicle, the protective Payload Fairing was jettisoned at X+3:40 exposing the HTV Spacecraft as aerodynamic and thermal loads were within limits at that point. The H-IIB Fairing is 15 meters long and 5.1 meters in diameter, and weights 3,200 Kilograms. Jettisoning it as early as possible increases launch vehicle performance. 5 minutes and 47 seconds into the flight, the Core Stage shut down when the vehicle was at an altitude of 184 Kilometers traveling 5.6 Kilometers per Second. Stage Separation was nominal and the Upper Stage assumed control over the vehicle igniting its LE-5B Engine at X+6:01.

Providing 137 Kilonewtons of vacuum thrust, LE-5B performed a 8-minute 19-second burn before shutting down as expected when the vehicle had reached its orbital velocity. The Upper Stage maneuvered to the correct orientation for HTV release. 15 minutes and 11 seconds after launch, the Spacecraft was deployed while the stack was flying over the Pacific Ocean, about 4,000 Kilometers downrange of the Launch Site. With HTV-3 starting its own mission in Low Earth Orbit, the second stage was not done yet. At X+1 hour and 39 minutes, the Second Stage was planned to perform a 53-second maneuver firing its LE-5B Engine in Idle Mode (using its propellants to provide thrust without using the engine's turbopump) for a retrograde Deorbit Burn setting the stage for destructive re-entry over the Pacific Ocean to dispose the spent rocket body. It was planned to impact in the South Pacific Ocean - away from any populated land masses. JAXA will verify the condition of the Second Stage when it passes over the Tanegashima Space Center after making its first lap around Earth - only sending the command for the Deorbit Maneuver if the vehicle is in proper condition.

The third H-II Transfer Vehicle is now in Orbit beginning its journey to link up with the International Space Station next week. HTV-3, also called Kounotori 3 (english: white stork), features a series of modifications that were implemented after the first two flights of the vehicle. The Spacecraft uses HBT-5 Main Thrusters providing 500 Newtons of thrust that are manufactured by IHI Aerospace instead of the previously used main thrusters built by Aerojet. (HTV-4 will use the old thruster configuration again before IHI Thrusters are used permanently) The Reaction Control System of HTV-3 uses 120N HBT-1 Thrusters instead of R-1E engines. Also, HTV-3 features new communications equipment that features several improvements and makes the vehicle more efficient in terms of power consumption. JAXA made significant modifications to the Unpressurized Cargo Carrier's Exposed Pallet. HTV-3 uses the Multi-Purpose version of the EP for the first time. In addition, the Exposed Pallet Holding Mechanism was improved and features a simpler design. During pre-flight processing, new techniques were utilized as well allowing cargo to be loaded until L-2 days making use of lessons learned during previous processing flows. Over the next 6 days, the HTV Spacecraft will make phasing maneuvers to link up with the International Space Station on Friday, July 27. The vehicle has to raise its orbital altitude from its initial 200 by 300-Kilometer Orbit to the Station's 400-Kilometer Mean Altitude making a series of main thruster burns over the course of the week. On Friday, HTV enters the vicinity of the Space Station starting with its Approach Initiation Maneuver 5 Kilometers behind the Station transitioning to the R-Bar to approach ISS from below. ISS Crew Members Joe Acaba and Aki Hoshide will be monitoring the vehicle from the Station's Cupola. They will be able to send commands to HTV via the HTV Command Panel issuing Hold/Retreat/Abort Commands as the vehicle makes its approach. Once at its Capture Point, the Astronauts will use the Stations Robotic Arm - Candarm2 - to grapple the Spacecraft and berth it to the Nadir Port of the Harmony Module. After installing the vehicle on the Station and performing hatch opening and ingress operations, the crew can enter the vehicle and start cargo operations. The H-II Transfer Vehicle 3 Spacecraft will deliver about 4,600 Kilograms of cargo to the International Space Station. This includes internal supplies as well as unpressurized Cargo delivered via the Unpressurized Logistics Carrier. The internal cargo includes Space Station supplies as well as utilization hardware and spare parts for the Kibo Module of ISS. Two external Payloads are being delivered by HTV-3, NASA's SCaN Testbed and JAXA's Multi-Mission Consolidated Equipment. A complete Payload Overview is available here. HTV-3 will remain docked to ISS until September 6, 2012.

H-IIB Launcher rolled to Launch Complex

July 20, 2012

H-IIB *File Image* - Photo: JAXA

The H-IIB Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle with H-II Transfer Vehicle 3 has been rolled to Launch Pad 2 at the Tanegashima Space Center, Japan. The Space Center that is located at the South-Eastern tip of Tanegasima Island - South of Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's main islands. The nightly 400-meter trip from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the Launch Pad to Launch Pad 2 took about 30 minutes. After the vehicle arrived at the launch pad, technicians began to secure the pad, perform final reconfigurations and final close-outs. As countdown clocks start ticking, the launch team performs several polls to verify operational conditions of the launch vehicle, spacecraft, launch facilities, and tracking and control systems, as well as weather conditions, before the Propellant Loading Process is started. The core stage and upper stage of the vehicle will be filled with 194,400 Kilograms of Liquid Oxygen and Hydrogen. Tanking takes about 3 hours. As countdown operations progress, propellant loading will be completed and the topping sequence will get underway. At X-60 Minutes (instead of T- or L-, the H-II Countdown Clocks use X- Time), the Terminal Countdown Sequence will start. During the final hour of the countdown, last-minute items will be closed out and the vehicle will be reconfigured for the Automatic Countdown Sequence starting just 4.5 minutes prior to blastoff.As computers are given control of the countdown, H-IIB's Propellant Tanks will be pressurized for flight. At X-3 minutes the launch vehicle is switched to internal power while HTV-3 while have been on battery power for several more minutes at that point. One minute before liftoff, thousands of Kilograms of water are being poured over the launch platform to supress the acoustic loads of liftoff. Launch Vehicle Ordnances will be armed at X-30 Seconds and the Guidance System of the Vehicle is being switched to Flight Mode 12 Seconds later before the Sparklers underneath the LE-7A main engines ignite to burn off residual Hydrogen. Ignition Sequence Start is commanded at X-5.2 Seconds and the twin LE-7A Engines soar to life as the turbopumps spin up to flight speed being monitored by on-board computers to make sure the powerplants are healthy before the four 77,000-Kilogram Solid Rocket Boosters are ignited and the launcher blasts off.

Launch remains planed for 2:06:18 GMT on July 21. For more information on the H-IIB Vehicle, visit our Launch Vehicle Overview. Live Updates of today's Terminal Countdown and Ascent will be available via our HTV-3 Coverage Site. NASA TV will have live Launch Coverage starting at 1:15 GMT.

Late Cargo Loading in progress, Launch Preparations on Track

July 18, 2012

With HTV-3 in place atop its H-IIB Launch Vehicle, preparations for launch have been continuing at the Tanegashima Space Center, Japan. On July 9, a final inspection was performed by technicians. Also, Late Cargo Loading has been in progress since the vehicle was installed on the Launcher. The final items will be placed aboard HTV-3 on July 19 before its hatch is closed and latched and the Payload Fairing is closed-out for flight. From July 13 to 15, a complete countdown and launch simulation was performed to put the hardware and the launch team through a full rehearsal of activities needed on Launch Day and perform final testing of all systems. Launch remains planned for July 21, 2012 at precisely 2:06:18 GMT. Currently, all preparations are on track for an on-time launch of the third H-II Transfer Vehicle.

HTV-3 installed on H-IIB Launch Vehicle

July 11, 2012

_H-II
Transfer Vehicle 3 Launch Preparations are continuing at the Tanegashima Space
Center, Japan, as technicians are readying the spacecraft and its H-IIB Launch
Vehicle for the mission. Primary Cargo Loading was completed in June and
teams started to charge the vehicle’s batteries and fuel it for flight. After
hazardous processing was complete, HTV-3 underwent a final visual inspection
before being installed on its Payload Adapter on June 26 and 27. The protective
Payload Fairing was installed around the Spacecraft late in June to protect the
vehicle during the Transfer to the Vehicle Assembly Building, during its stay at
the Launch Pad and while flying through the dense atmosphere during powered
ascent. On July 7, 2012, the stack was moved from the Second Spacecraft and
Fairing Assembly Building (SFA2) to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) where
the large H-IIB Launcher was integrated in preparation for launch. The
KOUNOTORI 3 Spacecraft was installed atop the launcher and integrated testing
of the combined vehicle was started. During final processing inside the VAB,
the Late Cargo Load takes place during which time-critical payloads are loaded
into the vehicle’s Pressurized Cargo Carrier. One of the items that is a part
of this cargo is the i-Ball Payload.

Photo: JAXA

_ i-Ball is a Re-Entry Data Recorder that will make
its debut on HTV3. The Sensors is spherical in shape, has a diameter of 40
centimeters and includes two cameras that are expected to acquire footage of
HTV’S fiery return to Earth and give insight in the destructive re-entry
environment. Also, the device includes sensors for measuring temperature and
accelerations. In addition, i-Ball houses a GPS Transponder to track the device
after re-entry during the final stages of its flight. Its final descent is decelerated
by a parachute that is deployed before splashdown in the ocean. The Data
Recorder was developed by IHI Aerospace Co. Ltd. And has a total mass of 15.5
Kilograms.>>>HTV-3 Cargo Manifest

Mission Preparations in Full Swing; Cargo Loading underway

June 22, 2012

Photo: JAXA

_Japan’s
third H-II Transfer Vehicle is being prepared for its Mission to the
International Space Station to deliver ISS Cargo to the orbiting outpost.
Launch aboard an H-IIB Rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center is currently
planned for July 21, 2012. Also called Kounotori 3, the vehicle will
need 6 days to link up with the space station. The spacecraft will approach the
Station to be grappled with the Space Station’s Robotic Arm which will then
berth it to the Node 2 ‘Harmony Module. The three USOS Crew Members, Joe Acaba,
Suni Williams and Aki Hoshide will be involved in the capture, berthing and
Hatch Opening Operation to make HTV-3 a part of the Space Station. HTV-3 will
carry supplies for NASA, ESA and JAXA including items needed for daily life aboard
ISS as well as experiment hardware. Also, the HTV features and external payload
carrier that will delivers external payloads such as spare parts and science
hardware that is being removed robotically. HTV-3 will be unberthed on
September 6, 2012.Launch Preparations at the Tanegashima
Space Center began in August 2011 when the pressurized Logistics Carrier (PLC), the
Unpressurized Logistics Carrier (ULC), and the Propulsion Module of the H-II
Transfer Vehicle (HTV3) arrived at the launch site for final processing and
integration as well as cargo loading. The Avionics Module of the Spacecraft was
delivered on January 15, 2012. On February 21, the Exposed Pallet was delivered
to Tanegashima. In June 2012, HTV-3 completed its integration process and the
cargo loading operation got underway. A total of about 3,500 Kilograms of supplies will
be loaded into the Pressurized Logistics Carrier. These items include the
following Utilization Payloads: Aquatic Habitat, JEM-Small Satellite Deployer,
5 Cubesats that will be deployed from ISS in September, and two Re-Entry Data
Recorders: REBR (Re-Entry Breakup Recorder) and i-Ball. Also, two spare parts
for the Kibo Laboratory of the Space Station will be delivered aboard HTV-3:
one Catalytic Reactor needed for the JPM Water Processing System and a Kibo
Coolant Water Circulation Pump.

_The majority of cargo will be consisting of
supplies for the Station Crew including food, beverages snacks and crew
clothing was well as personal items and hygiene materials. The Unpressurized
Logistics Carrier will carry two external Payloads to the Space Station: the
Multi-Mission Consolidated Equipment Payload and the NASA Space Communications
and Navigation Testbed – SCAN. A detailed Payload Overview will be published in
the final weeks ahead of liftoff.

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